Packers linebackers coach stepping down

GREEN BAY (WKOW) -- Green Bay Packers outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene is stepping away from coaching to spend more time with his wife and children.

Greene released a statement saying he'll miss coaching and will consider a return to the sidelines after they attend college.

In his five seasons with Green Bay, the Packers recorded 204 sacks, fourth in the NFL over that period. Outside linebackers accounted for 91.5 of those sacks.

Under Greene's direction, linebacker Clay Matthews earned four straight Pro Bowl selections, from 2009-12, becoming the first player in Packers history to be named to the all-star game in each of his first four seasons in the league.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy released the following statement:

"I am stepping away from the NFL at this time in order to spend more time with my wife, Tara, and our children, Gavin and Gabrielle," said Greene. "I will miss coaching and will try to return after our kids move on to college if a team will have me.

"My experience here with the Green Bay Packers has been nothing but positive. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity that Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson have blessed me with. I have a peace about the productivity that I helped bring forward in all of the fine young men that have been entrusted to me these past five years. I am most proud of all their accomplishments and the fine young men they've become in this league."

In Greene's five seasons with the team (2009-13), the Packers registered 204 sacks, No. 4 in the NFL over that span, with the outside linebackers accounting for 91.5 of those sacks. In '09, Greene was part of a staff that guided the Green Bay defense to a No. 2 overall ranking in the league, the highest mark since the 1996 team finished as the No. 1 defense.

Under Greene's direction, LB Clay Matthews earned four straight Pro Bowl selections (2009-12) as he became the first player in franchise history to be named to the all-star game in each of his first four seasons in the league.

"Kevin approached me recently to express his desire to step away from coaching so that he could spend more time with his family," said McCarthy. "On behalf of the entire organization, I want to thank him for all of his contributions and hard work over the past five seasons with the Packers.

"Kevin provided an incredible amount of energy, passion and knowledge each and every day he was with us. The dedication he showed to maximizing the potential of his players was clearly evident to anyone that worked with him, and he will be missed. I want to wish Kevin, Tara, Gavin and Gabrielle nothing but the best in the years ahead."